Vanessa Hogge

The infinite patterns and possibilities of flowers inspire me to create rich, decorative ‘icings’ and over-the-top frilled porcelain ceramic forms. It’s a mesmerising process! I’m addicted to the rhythm of repetitive action and how it can alter surfaces. I tear, pinch, roll and cut porcelain to form simple petals that blossom and grow into complex symmetrical forms. Each flower is hand formed – no moulds used, so every piece is unique.

What I love about porcelain is not its translucency or fragility, but its beauty when used in thicker sections to portray and resemble the most delicate of forms. The way porcelain changes in the making and firing process from a sticky and stubborn ‘plasticine’ into the toughest, most brittle and beautiful shades of stony white inspires me to push it to its max …

At once organic and ornate, spontaneous and stylised, Vanessa Hogge’s decorative wallflowers bring a unique textural and visual dimension to any wall or table.

Working predominantly in porcelain, Vanessa crafts her one-off flowerheads and vessels in her studio in Cockpit Arts Holborn. Grounded by years of expertise as a ceramicist, she takes an instinctive, visceral approach to each piece, painstakingly sculpting every petal and anther by hand so that no two flowers are identical.

The efflorescent flowers are created in porcelain and black clay, and are fired to high temperatures to create brittle, ossified shades of white and lava-like black.

Inspired by her passion for all things botanical, and influences as diverse as Frida Kahlo, Indian miniature paintings and Marianne North, Vanessa breathes life into her clay in the form of dahlias, chrysanthemums, daisies, hydrangeas and daphne.

"So long, and thanks for all the fish"

After very many years of craft&design we've decided that we'd like to retire and so in 29 days we will close the craft&design website, including craft&design Online and the craft&design Selected Makers and Craft and Design Month websites.
We've had a brilliant 35 years and would like to thank all our readers, advertisers, writers, contributors and website visitors for their support throughout that time.
Our very best wishes to you all for the future - Angie and Paul.